THE LION KING In Las Vegas: A Teaser For The Locals

It was an unusual event for theater in Las Vegas but, perhaps, these times demand extra creativity and buzz. And, if the latter was what they were after, they hit a bullseye.

"They" are the Disney Theatrical Group (represented by president Thomas Schumacher) and Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino (represented by its president, Bill Hornbuckle). On December 5 invited the local press — maybe 100 or so reporters and photographers — along with ticket brokers and concierges to the Mandalay Bay Theatre for a taste of things to come.

RIght now, Mamma Mia! is closing out a run of over six years in the venue. The Lion King in Las Vegas will be one of few permanent companies of the show when it begins an open-ended run May 2, 2009.

To launch their show, the producers brought Lion King cast members Tshidi Manye (Rafiki), Dashaun Young (Simba) and Kissy Simmons (Nala) west to wow the crowd. And they did.

Hornbuckle told the crowd that 10 years ago, as president of the MGM Grand he'd tried to bring the show to that property. "it's a natural fit," he explained) but it never happened before 9/11."

He talked about the entertainment available today in the city and noted, "The one thing that is missing is the magic of Disney. There's a spirit to this show that Las Vegas has never seen."

Schumacher took over the presentation and absolutely wowed the crowd with his saga of this show and how it came to be. It began, as almost everyone must know, as an animated film which, he said, he was given to produce as a kind of punishment because his previous film, The Rescuers Down Under, was not successful. Of course, this film was wildly successful.

"Michael Eisner, who was then  president of Disney, called me and told me to put it on Broadway. I said, 'That's a terrible idea.' Eisner persisted, I resisted and, finally, he said to me, 'I don't think you understand. I'm president of Disney.'

"Lions," he said, "have a limited range of activity. They sleep, eat and mate. That's it. So my one brilliant idea was Julie Taymor."

After the presentation he explained, "The Lion King plays on Broadway, but it doesn't play like every other show on Broadway. We're not going to change anything in Las Vegas. We might change some things. Cirque has changed Las Vegas. But they're a spectacle. We're an allegory — a human story told by animals.'

He noted that The Lion King is well-suited for Las Vegas as "everywhere, the vast majority of our audience is adults. It crosses so many cultural boundaries that no one is excluded."

Tickets for The Lion King will range in price from $53 to $113.50 (including taxes and fees). There will be a VIP package that will include premium seating, a program and a gift. Those tickets will be $168.50 (including taxes and fees).

Photo of The Lion King Tour Courtesy of Disney Theatrical Group